Louisiana Students Could Be Forced to Repay TOPS Money

(KMDL-FM) If you have school-age children in Louisiana or have had school-age children since 1998, then you are likely familiar with the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, known more widely as TOPS. TOPS was created to help Louisiana students and their families afford higher education.

READ MORE: Naming Rights for TOPS Like a Football Stadium? It Could Happen

The program basically worked like a scholarship. If you earned good grades, you could earn tuition money at Louisiana colleges and universities with the state of Louisiana paying the tab. Many students used the TOPS money, partied for a semester, and then quit.

Will Louisiana Require Students to Pay Back TOPS Scholarship Money?

But if an important adendum to the TOPS program is passed by the legislature, then those "party while someone else pays " days are going to have some serious consequences. In other words, the State of Louisiana will want its money back.

House Bill 385 would make it so any student who accepts TOPS money after the 2025-2026 school year would be on the hook to pay that money back if they fail just one semester or if they decide to quit college altogether.

Basically, the legislation would shut down the TOPS gravy train and make students and their families financially responsible for irresponsible behavior at school. One estimate suggested that it could make a difference of $50 million to the program.

Flunk One Semester, and You'll Be Required to Pay Back Your TOPS Scholarship

Some legislators did push back on the "flunk one semester" aspect of the legislation. That does seem to be a bit harsh, but in the "real world," you don't get a "hall pass" for being "half-assed" on your job, so why not teach that lesson early and put some teeth into it?

READ MORE: $1,000 in Free Money for Louisiana Students? Here's Who Gets It

The debate and discussion on the proposed legislation are still going on in the House. Should that legislative body pass the measure, it would still need Senate approval, and then the Governor would have to sign off on the legislation.

But here's one more thing to consider: if Louisiana students stop getting TOPS money, that means Louisiana colleges and universities aren't getting that money either. That could lead to more funding cuts in higher education. But our legislature would never cut money for education, would they? In a heartbeat.